Monthly Archives: November 2012

Hey there, folks. I wanted to drop in and catch you up on all things Nate. Or both things Nate. We’ll have to start writing and see how many things there are. Might be a few, might be a lot.

So this past weekend was Thanksgiving, and it was a good time. Got together with my ex on Wednesday to watch Sons of Anarchy and drink bourbon. I am thankful for a lot of things this year, but one of the biggest things is tht I’ve managed to stay friends with Shawna. It means a lot to me, and the fact that it weirds out everybody we know is a fun little cherry on top.

I spent my Thanksgiving dinner with Wrath James White and his family. The dinner was amazing, though incredibly filling. I’m still working on my leftovers, which includes 99% of a pumpkin pie I took because I didn’t know the White family had already baked four pies.

Friday was spent with my family, wondering why my brother likes to bring up personal things in front of children. I made a mental note to finally stop telling him personal things. I broke that promise two days later. Took the pie with me, and no one touched it. Who wants a pie? Er…most of a pie.

Sunday night, I made my second appearance at the Cap City Comedy open mic night. It went amazingly, much better than the first time. I still don’t know how far I want to go with this comedy thing (or how far I can go with what talent I have), but right now it’s very fun, and I’m looking forward to doing it again as soon as possible.

I have a few more things to announce in the coming weeks/months, but I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row, first.

Kelli Owen tagged me a week back and guilted me into doing this. Just kidding! I had fun. There was no guilt involved. If you’ve ever met Kelli, you know she’s far too mani to pull off a good guilt trip. Poor girl…

Anyway…enjoy!

1) What is the title of your next book?

Red Sky

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

Fun story, but I’m only going to tell you part of it. I wrote the entire book for a single scene, and the idea for that scene came from a music video. I’ve now given you twice as much information about Red Sky’s origins than I’ve given anybody else.

3) What genre does your book fall under?

It’s certainly a horror book, though a good portion over it is pretty firmly entrenched in the crime genre.

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Believe it or not, I’ve never considered this. For Danny Black, the career criminal who serves as the closest thing we have to a hero, I want somebody both handsome and gritty. I really want to say John Hamm. Like, a weathered John Hamm. Or Josh Halloway. Or Timothy Olyphant. For his best friend and partner in crime Nelson, I want somebody who can be a little more fun, a little more caring. I’d say Joseph Gordon-Levitt. At this point we’re just going through my man crushes. For psycho lovebirds Gina and Dale, I’d go with Lizzy Caplan and maybe Ryan Hurst. Twitchy driver Wallace? Either Aaron Paul or Dominic Monaghan. For hostage Mel (short for Melanie), I’ll say Ellie Kemper, who I want to see in a dramatic role. I’d also demand a Kelly Clarkson cameo, preferably with her wearing glasses. I’ve said to much…

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When a bank robbery goes sour and a string of career criminals hides out in an abandoned factory, they find themselves hunted by both the military and a group of horrific creatures.

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

The book will be published by Deadite Press.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

The first draft took a little over two months to complete. Another two years passed before the book wasx ready to be published, though.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’d hope it would compare to some of the better siege and action works in the genre, like Jack Ketchum’s Ladies Night and David Wellington’s books. If you like monsters, shooting, and a good car chase, this is a damn good book for you.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Asking me question two again isn’t going to get you a new answer.

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

I love the idea of horrible things happening under our noses, secret corners to the world and secrets that most people never have to face. Somewhere between conspiracy theories and the edge of the galaxy, there’s this idea that everything is just a little weirder…a little grimier…than the one we see. Red Sky is a peek into one of those corners. And there’s a tie to my vampire novel Lights Out. Also, Laird Barron said it reminded him of Predator. That’s got to count for something.

Well, it’s time! The judges have cast their votes, and we have a winner! I want to thank Lee Thomas and Maria Cruz for their help selecting a winner, and I want to that those who sent in entries. There was some great stuff, but in the end there can be only one winner (plus one second place winner and one third place winner). Congratulations, winners. Your prizes will be sent out this weekend.